Battery Rickshaws to Be Barred in Gulshan Beginning Saturday
In a move to restore order on the streets of Gulshan, authorities have decided to ban all battery-powered rickshaws in the upscale neighborhood starting Saturday, April 19. Previously, only registered pedal-powered rickshaws with designated colors were allowed to operate in the area. However, for the past seven to eight months, unauthorized battery-operated and out-of-zone rickshaws have increasingly infiltrated Gulshan, creating widespread traffic disorder.
To enforce the new policy, special measures have been implemented at the nine main entry points into Gulshan to block battery rickshaws. Additionally, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has started installing “trappers”—special barriers—on major roads to prevent the movement of unauthorized auto-rickshaws.
According to sources, the implementation of this initiative will involve a joint effort by DNCC, the Gulshan Society, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). To support the enforcement, the Gulshan Society has appointed 20 additional security guards who will coordinate directly with the police.
Confirming the initiative on Friday night (April 18), DNCC spokesperson Mokbul Hossain said, “Starting tomorrow, all battery-powered rickshaws will be banned from operating in Gulshan. This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with local residents, and DNCC will continue this effort regularly. Although this enforcement begins in Gulshan, DNCC aims to extend the battery rickshaw ban to other areas in the future.”
Earlier, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz stated that in addition to setting up effective trappers, drives will be conducted to remove battery-powered auto-rickshaws from the main roads. “DMP has already started installing trappers to stop auto-rickshaws from entering main thoroughfares. However, some operators are ignoring the restrictions and trying to bypass the trappers. We are actively working on this issue,” he said.
The initiative marks a significant step in traffic regulation and urban management in the capital’s high-profile neighborhood.
